Father gets death sentence, son lifer

Nagpur, June 17 (UNI) A trial court in Yavatmal has sentenced a man to death and his son to life imprisonment on charges of murder of four people in 2004.

The court also sentenced a third accused to three years imprisonment, while acquitting two others for want of evidence in the same case.

Sessions Judge D R Shirsao handed down the death sentence to Maroti Shrirame (50), while sentencing his son Vinod Shrirame (23) to life imprisonment yesterday. He also sentenced Gopikisan Gadmade to three years in prison, while acquitting Purushottam Gadmade (42) and Parashram Gadmade (72).

The ruling came in the sensational murder of Sunil Vishwas Jawalkar, Parashram Vishwas Jawalkar, Chandrashekhar Bulbule and Sunil Shrivallabh Dhoot on September 14, 2004, in village Mozar in Darwha tehsil of the district.

According to the prosecution, Maroti suspected Sunil Jawalkar of having an illicit affair with his daughter. On the fateful day, Maroti along with his son Vinod attacked Sunil with swords. The two followed Sunil into his home, and assaulted his elder brother Parashram also. The father-son duo allegedly also attacked Bulbule, a villager, and Dhoot, Vinod's friend, when they tried to intervene.

Sunil, Parashram, Bulbule and Dhoot died as a result of the wounds sustained in the attack. The prosecution said while the attack was on, Maroti's father-in-law Parashram Gadmade, and brothers-in-law Purushottam and Gopikisan were instigating the assailants.

A total of 24 witnesses were examined during the trail, which commenced in September 2006.